PA ProStart Blog

Name: John Reis, CFBEOccupation: Corporate Executive Chef, Hilton HarrisburgChef John Reis has a world of experience in the culinary arts. After coming to the United States from Portugal with his family at the age of 12, Chef Reis started cooking and hasn't stopped since. He worked and learned his way into his first executive chef position at just 23 years old. Since joining the Hilton Harrisburg in 1990, Chef Reis has overseen culinary efforts for the Hilton, The Hilton Garden Inn Hershey, Central Penn College Conference Center and Bricco. Most recently, he led the culinary team in developing menus for the Hilton Harrisburg’s Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar and 1700 Degrees Steakhouse. We asked Chef Reis a few questions to learn more about life as a hotel executive chef.

Photo: Waxman Photography

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?I usually come to work at 7am and leave around 6pm unless we have banquets or other events. Then I stay until we serve dinner or I feel comfortable. I will check with all my sous chefs before I leave.

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?My passion for cooking started growing up as one of 4 boys in my family. I started cooking for my brothers since both of my parents worked. During high school, I helped cook with the lunch ladies to feed the students.

3. What was your first job in the industry?My first job was in Hartford, Connecticut as a prep cook while I was going to high school. I started working after school at the Hotel America, which then became the Sonesta Hotel and then The Summit Hotel.​4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.Like I mentioned before, I started working when I was only 15 years old as a prep cook. In those days, kitchens were set up very European style, with stations including:

Prep cook

Pantry

Broiler

Roasting station

Sauté station

Vegetable cooking

While I was learning all those stations, I always helped out in the restaurant as a busboy, server, food runner, etc. I worked in all those stations until I became a sous chef, was sous chef for a few years before becoming banquet chef, then executive sous chef and then executive Chef at 23.

5. What is the most challenging part of your job?The most challenging part of my job is to make all my staff feel the passion that I have for their job. Our job is different than any other one—without passion for what we do, the final result is not the best and the customers now expect that.

6. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in culinary?The advice that I have is to treat cooking not just as a job, but as a playground, where we need to have fun at what we do.

7. What achievement are you most proud of?My greatest achievement that I am most proud of was to be able to open two brand new kitchens from the ground up and becoming one of the youngest executive chefs at 23 years old.

8. What do you like to do when you’re not working?My work is my life, but I still like to cook at home. With three grandkids, and two of them living up the street from me, it is nice to see them almost daily. I also like the sun, so I like to go to our local pool when I am off or work out in the yard on a nice sunny day.

9. Favorite thing to make (or eat)?Since I am Portuguese, I like foods with a lot of flavors, especially garlic, tomatoes and paprika. I am a very simple eater- some of my favorites are meatloaf, eggplant Parmesan, and pastas.

Name: James KnappOccupation: Chef De Cuisine, Common Plea CateringUnder the traditional French "kitchen brigade" hierarchy, the Chef de Cuisine is in charge of day-to-day kitchen operations, including menu planning, purchasing and cost control, and staff management. Read on to hear from James Knapp, a Chef De Cuisine with Pittsburgh's Common Plea Catering.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?A typical day of work for me would be clocking in around 9 o'clock and gathering my contracts and recipes for the event my Executive Chef has assigned to me. I begin making soups and sauces, writing new recipes, and revising old ones. Around 2 o'clock I gather all of my team to pack the truck with food and props, then head to the event.

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?After high school, I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go. I could've gotten into the construction business like the rest of my family, but that didn’t make me feel as happy as rocking a Friday night dinner service on the line, and searing every scallop perfectly! Ticket machines spewing tickets to the floor, and banging out 250 covers in an hour.

3. What was your first job in the industry?My first job in the culinary industry was a pizza cook at Pizza Hut.​4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.I started out working in little mom and pop scratch kitchens—a few pizza shops and breakfast diners where I really developed the love for cooking. Shortly after I graduated high school, I enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. Once I learned about all of the classical cooking, the history and techniques, I was hooked.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?My favorite part about my job would be that there's always something different to do every day. I'm never stagnant, repeatedly doing the same thing day in and day out. There is always a different event, whether it be a plated dinner service, a buffet, or passed Hors D'oeuvres.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?The most challenging part about my job is the time spent away from my family. Being a chef is demanding work, and requires a lot of invested hours, as any job would.

7. What advice would you give to students interested in working in the hospitality industry?Advice I would give to someone interested in the industry is always be willing to learn. Be motivated, reliable, and determined to succeed.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?The achievement I am most proud of would be obtaining my degree from Le Cordon Bleu.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?When I am not at work I like to spend every single minute I have off, with my family. Relaxing watching movies with my kids and going outside to play.

10. Favorite dish to make (or eat)?I'm not sure if I have a favorite dish to cook, I'm not too picky. But Italian cuisine would be my favorite to cook and eat.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?I start my day first thing in the morning by skimming emails for an emergencies or time sensitive events. By the time I get to the office, I have a mental plan of action for the day and know what will need my attention first. Planning events in a big city with lots of conventions means a mix of very last minute events and events that are planned up to a year in advance. I spend my office time answering emails, detailing events, speaking with clients over the phone and communicating with the restaurants on execution for the events I plan. During the evenings, I am on call for any event emergencies or on-site for any VIP events.

2. Why did you choose this industry?I fell in love with the restaurant industry as a server and bartender in high school for a new restaurant that opened in my hometown. Seeing the business grow from the ground up was so much fun for me. I loved the energy of serving and interacting with my guests. My love for the industry inspired me to study hospitality management in college at Penn State.

3. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.I studied hospitality management in college and participated in a very inspiring women’s leadership program my junior year which provided me with amazing resources and mentors in my industry. By October of my senior year, I had accepted a position to work for Hillstone Restaurant Group as a manager after graduation. This job took me to Dallas for a 3 month intensive training followed by manager roles in Hillstone restaurants in Atlanta, Boston and Washington D.C. I transitioned to a manager role with STARR restaurants after about 3 years with Hillstone and I worked in Philadelphia at Buddakan restaurant for 2 years. After a brief stint away from the industry (3 months) I came back to work for STARR in a different role as an event manager.4. What is your favorite part of your job?I love that I get to experience the energy that comes with working with people and the restaurants but I still have the flexibility of more “normal” office hours. I feel so lucky to have a job that I love that also allows me to spend more time with friends and family than a restaurant manager ever allowed.

5. What is the most challenging part of your job?The most challenging part of my job is establishing a balance between work and life. I plan events Monday- Friday during normal office hours but a very large majority of my events happen outside of those times. This makes it difficult to not always be “on” for any needs my clients or the restaurants may have.

6. What advice would you give to students interested in working in the hospitality industry?I would advise anyone interested in the industry to be comfortable with working your way up. I was excited about being a restaurant manager but always knew I wanted a job with less night and weekend hours. By gaining experience on the floor in the restaurants first, I have a much better understanding of the execution of my events and I am so grateful for that experience.

7. What achievement are you most proud of?I am the most proud of being a working mom! This is by far the hardest accomplishment and I am so proud of being able to have my career and provide for my son. Working full time while being a mom is such a challenge but also incredibly rewarding.

8. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?I love to spend all of my free time outside. Most weekends my family and I are hiking or headed to the beach in the summer.

9. Favorite dish to eat (or make)?I experiment with new recipes every week! I spend so much time talking about food throughout the day that I am inspired daily for new dinner options to make for my family. This week I made an amazing spicy shrimp cauliflower rice bowl!

Name: Andrew Nutter CCC, CCE, FMP, M.Ed., M.A.Occupation: Assistant Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Academy of Culinary ArtsIf you've been to a PA ProStart Invitational, you'll recognize our next culinarian— Chef Andrew Nutter, Assistant Professor at IUP Academy of Culinary Arts! Chef Nutter is a constant source of knowledge and guidance as lead judge for our competition, but did you know that he also served as a lead culinary author of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation "Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts, Volume 1 & 2" textbooks? We're lucky to have Chef Nutter as part of the PA ProStart community! Read more about his career and his advice for culinary students below.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?​Well, a typical work day begins around 7:30am where most of my office work gets done. This includes entering grades/attendance, curriculum development, class/lab mise en place, student advising, and faculty meetings which brings us to class time. Our culinary classes run from 11:30am-4:30pm every day during the fall and spring semesters. The summer semester labs run from 8:00am-4:30pm every day, with an hour off for lunch.

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?Always loved to cook and was responsible for preparing my own meals on a regular basis. I began working in my uncle’s Italian restaurant doing odd jobs, and moved from dishwasher, to prep, to hot line, to assistant/sous chef. I always loved spending time in the kitchen, whether with my family or professionally.

3. What was your first job in the industry?Ha! I worked in a pizza shop as a box folder/prep/dishwasher in high school. They would never let me cook, so I got bored with it and quit after one summer.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.I studied Food and Institutional Administration at West Virginia University and received my bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Robert Morris University. I earned an associate degree in Specialized Technology from The Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, and completed training and study in Paris, France at Le Academie du Vin, Hotel Ritz, Le Cordon Bleu, and La Varenne. I received a Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education from IUP 8/08 and received a Master of Education in Workforce Development and Training, 12/11. I worked for Westin Hotels and Resorts on Hilton Head Island, SC, and was Saucier and Executive Sous Chef at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, PA.

I was a lead chef instructor in the Hotel and Restaurant Management program in the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute's Le Cordon Bleu program. I am involved with the ACF at local and national levels. I have been a coach/advisor for ACF Knowledge Bowl competition teams, winning 2 bronze, and 3 silver medals, including one regional and two national championships. I have presented seminars at ACF National and Regional Conventions. I also participated in state and national ProStart Culinary Competitions, in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and California. I was the lead culinary author for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s “Foundations, Volume 1 and Volume 2” textbooks used in all ProStart curricula. As such, I have been an invited culinary advisor for various NRAEF culinary projects and photoshoots held at Bracket Studios in Chicago, IL. I joined IUP in August of 2006, and currently teach Sanitation Management, Purchasing, Soups, Stocks & Sauce Production, Beef & Veal Preparation, and Fish & Shellfish Preparation/Cookery.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?Getting to spend a year with our students sharing knowledge, laughs, stories, and seeing them progress to graduation from the program.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?Not getting to spend much time working on a restaurant hot line. I really enjoy working a la carte service but in a teaching environment, much of that pressure and excitement is lost.

7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in culinary?You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do. Professional experience, a positive attitude, and good people/communication skills will allow you to market yourself into a much more effective employee.

Try to associate yourself with the best possible operations and chefs to build an effective resume and gain the most productive experience. Do not focus too much on the “money” when first beginning your work experience…focus more on the education and training you will receive.

When moving from one job to the next, always try to put yourself in a better-quality operation. Never take a job for more money at a less reputable establishment.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?The pinnacle of my career would be to be inducted into the American Academy of Chefs. This will likely take place within the next year or so. That experience is what I would most be proud of.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not working?I like to play my bass guitar, and spend time with my family watching movies, and travelling.​10. Favorite thing to make (or eat)?I love pasta—any kind of pasta. I have been working toward developing professional quality pizza and hearth baked breads at home. It has been rewarding, and my family and I get to eat the results.

Name: Kiki AranitaOccupation: Co-owner/operator of Poi Dog (restaurant, food truck, and catering)Kiki Aranita and Chris Vacca opened their food truck, Poi Dog Philly, six years ago, cooking up Hawaiian-style food with influences from Filipio, Japanese, and Portugese cuisines. Since then, Poi Dog has expanded into catering as well as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse neighborhood. We asked Kiki a few questions to learn more about her career.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?There truly are no typical days, especially in summer which is the busy season on all three fronts of our business. In these last two weeks, I’ve been in 6 different cities, each day doing something different: serving poke to 400 people at the I Love Poke Festival in San Diego, speaking on panels at industry talks, picking up product in NYC for a Gotham Grove (specialty vinegar, soy sauce and salt company) collaboration dinner at Poi Dog next week, traveling to Washington DC to attend events and lobbying for No Kid Hungry (particularly closing the summer meal gap) on the Hill, meeting with Senators from Pennsylvania and then coming back to Philly for a collaboration dinner to raise money for the ACLU for abortion rights. In between all of this, I’m cooking on the food truck, overseeing catering that goes out of the restaurant, helping out if the restaurant gets slammed at lunch hour, ordering products, paying bills, etc. ​2. Why did you choose this career/industry?It chose me. Chris Vacca and I started a business that has just kept growing.

3. What was your first job in the industry? It was industry-adjacent. I worked liquor promotions and special events in the NYC metro area for Jagermeister and all brands that fell under the Sidney Frank umbrella when I was in grad school.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.Chris and I started a food truck shortly after leaving grad school, quickly got into catering and then opened a restaurant and expanded our catering business.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?Working out logistics for challenging events and working alongside my friends in the industry.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?Working out logistics for our participation in challenging events (that take place in unusual places like barns or faraway places like most recently Toronto, San Diego and in the past, Honolulu, Miami and Manila)7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a culinary career?Ask for opportunities.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?Creating a culture based equally on aloha and levelheadedness in the restaurant.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?Watch spy movies with my dog Coconut.

10. Favorite thing to make (or eat)?​Favorite thing to eat: a homecooked meal made by someone else.

Name: Chris Simpler​Occupation: Executive General Manager and Director of Hotel Operations, Settlers HospitalityThere's more to the culinary field than just chefs whites and mise en place. Learn about a career in hospitality management from Chris Simpler, Executive General Manager and Director of Hotel Operations for Settlers Hospitality. In this role, Chis is responsible for all operations of Hotel Anthracite & Kōl Steakhouse in Carbondale, PA.

​1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?In our world, there is no such thing as a typical day! The General Manager in particular is expected to address a wide variety of issues, which can be anything from a unique guest request to a major repair that has to be done immediately. That said, there are important constants—ensuring sufficient staffing, equipment, and product are in place for upcoming events and lodging needs, and keeping an eye on daily financials to ensure A/R and A/P is working the way it should.

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?The hospitality industry is unique and wonderful largely due to the high degree of personal engagement with guests that is required while also offering a challenging environment in which one gets to be creative in both the ‘right brain’ (design, menu creation) and ‘left brain’ (finance, property management) skills.

3. What was your first job in the industry?My first official job was at age 14 as a dishwasher/busser at The Red Fox Inn in Fishkill, NY. Within weeks, I was cooking and serving tables and continued working in some restaurant or hotel capacity for most of my life.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.My first deep dive into the hotel world came with Swank Audio Visuals in St. Louis, MO. There, I was able to learn how the many departments of the hotel come together to put on major events, and do it on a daily basis. Imagine a Broadway production where the music and scenery changed every show, and add food and lodging to the mix--this is the magic that happens every day (sometimes more than once a day!) in a hotel with a restaurant and event space. The people that taught me how to anticipate guest needs, leverage a team, and find ways to sell a better experience formed me into an effective manager and leader. The time I spent working in chain restaurants gave me a deep appreciation for the urgency that comes with feeding people well, and mentors such as Deb Siewing at Starbucks helped me refine my human resource and customer service skills. My financial services experience provided the opportunity to travel extensively and see the hospitality world from the guest’s point of view, something that helps me guide my team with great insight.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?In my career, I am most proud of the people who I have helped become successful. One of the joys of the hotel world is the ability to start in an entry-level position and progress (often quickly!) to upper level management, and it almost always happens because of a strong leader who trusts you to take on more than you thought you could.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?Not letting the constant pressure of daily operations take away from strategic activities. There will always be work that needs to get done, and business development—getting into the community, finding new opportunities, and installing systems, processes, and policies to grow the business--must be a priority!

7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in hospitality?Keep developing yourself as much as your business, because you will ultimately be the limiting factor for your enterprise. Read books (crazy idea, right?), magazines, and stay involved in your community. Stay healthy, as hospitality leadership requires a lot of energy and is truly a physically demanding career. And above all, be kind to others. It’s good for your spiritual and mental health and also good business sense—for as many people who work in hospitality, paths will cross in the future, and taking care of others will eventually be rewarding.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?Making the move to fully (re)immerse myself into hospitality by leaving what was a lucrative career in financial services. Without the support of my wife Jenna and the confidence in my business partners, I’d likely be doing something that I was challenged to find peace-of-mind in. In the hotel, as stressful as it can be, I know that what we’re offering to guests is valuable and necessary.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?My wife and I travel as much as we can, mostly to see family and friends. Our Tibetan Spaniel, “Ruby”, is our group’s Director of Pet Relations, and goes with us whenever possible.

10. Favorite thing to make (or eat)?​Even though I’m not a formally trained chef, I do pretty well in the kitchen, having learned how to cook from my grandmothers. While it may not be the fanciest recipe, Grandma Behrens’ traditional Sauerbraten yields some of the best results.

An internationally-recognized pastry rockstar, Chef Harris has earned herself numerous accolades including winning the 2017 Global Chef Challenge Semi-Finals for the Americas, being named the ACF's 2016 Pastry Chef of the Year, and earning the title of "Pastry Queen" at the 2014 Ladies' World Pastry Championship in Rimini, Italy. Continue reading to get a glimpse into the life and career of this #PastryQueen!

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?​There is no typical day! It varies based on types of business we have in our properties. Some days working on cake orders and weddings, some helping with banquet buffets and plate-ups. Often looking up trends, standardizing recipes and procedures or creating restaurant plated desserts. In between a lot of food ordering, staff scheduling and planning.

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?I think because I have always been artistic and I love food, and maybe a little crazy too!...to enjoy the chaos that it can be at times. I find that I need to keep busy and I like working with my hands—this field certainly provides this.

3. What was your first job in the industry?A family-owned restaurant, I was a prep cook that eventually became a line cook. The family worked with me and I learned so much as far as kitchen etiquette and basic cooking techniques. In the beginning of my career I was fortunate to often have supervisors and mentors that were always willing to share and help me grow.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.I have always worked in restaurants since I could work. Pizza shops, restaurant line cook and waitress, candy shop production, country club pastry cook, conference center pastry chef. I always found the thrill of trying to get the next job that I didn't think I was quite ready for. Each time only challenged me more and made me work harder. After high school, I actually went to college for architecture...that degree left me feeling bored and back to working in restaurants. About 10 years later after all the jobs previously listed, I decided to go to school to try to get culinary degree. I worked all day and went to school at night. It took me a few years longer, but I received not only my culinary degree, but a hotel restaurant management degree. I continued to focus on pastry and still tried for the job that was bigger than I. It has landed me in a company I love, working with a great team. I have competed in pastry competitions and traveled all over the States as well as abroad many times. I am very thankful for the people that I have met along the way that have helped to guide me to this point.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?It is pleasing people through my craft. We are able to provide smiles and give surprises from what we make. I also love that I get to work with pastry externs and students that have a desire to pursue the same career that I have.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?Balance. It is difficult on a daily basis with demands and tasks and also with personal life and knowing when to disconnect. There is always work to do, projects and menus to work on.

7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a culinary career?Truly understand what you are getting into.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?Winning 2014 Pastry Queen, Ladies World Pasty Championship held in Italy, competing against 10 other countries.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?Be outdoors, kayaking, hiking or gardening. I also love to cook and relax with some great wine.

10. Favorite thing to make (or eat)?​I actually really love to cook. Love cooking for family and friends and trying new recipes and methods, whether a cookout or a dinner party. My favorite 'go to' weeknight dinner is probably chicken picatta.

Name: Darlene 'StarDar' JonesOccupation: Owner & Curator, Star Fusion Restaurant Concepts / Co-Owner, Blu Diamond Juicery​Darlene Jones has overcome many obstacles to build a name for herself in the West Philadelphia community where she grew up. After being laid off from a prior full-time job, Jones turned to cooking and selling food out of her home to make ends meet. Through determination and perseverance she reinvented herself, building her restaurant, Star Fusion, from the ground up. She has now expanded to open a second location, Star Fusion Express, and co-owns Blu Diamond Juicery as well.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?​A typical day at the restaurant is filled with tasks. Here are the main things I look for:

Quick staff meeting: thank staff for their service, go over areas of improvement​

​2. Why did you choose this career/industry?As child I watched my grandmother cook and make everyone happy, and now I cook and make people happy. I love nourishing people.

3. What was your first job in the industry?​McDonalds! I was truly the definition of a burger flipper. I worked the grill and I loved it.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.​I worked in corporate business for years before being laid off from my job in executive sales. After that, I fell back into my passion of cooking as a hobby at first. But it made me happy, and with the skills I developed through my corporate experiences, I began selling food out of my home, and realized I could make a business out of it.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?Serving people good quality food in the neighborhood where I grew up. I love when people enjoy my food. Having a satisfied guest is my favorite part.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?The most challenging part is dealing with varying personalities within my team members, however I remind them of our mission and it's usually fine. ​7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a culinary career?Make sure you are passionate about what you create, because your creation will shine if you love what you do.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?Opening Blu Diamond Juicery and Star Fusion Express. It was a dream of mine to open up a restaurant in the neighborhood I grew up in. My first job was on 52nd and chestnut, and now my Blu Diamond Juicery is on 52nd and Walnut, only about a block away. My second Star Fusion location, Star Fusion Express, just opened a short distance away on Parkside Ave. I can't believe I'm now able to give jobs to people of the community that raised me.

9. What do you like to do when you’re not working?Travel!

10. What is your favorite thing to make (or eat)?Don't judge me now—chicken wings. I love creating sauce and rubs for chicken wings.

Name: TJ ArrowoodOccupation: Regional Operations Director, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group (Red Robin)Starting off as a server, TJ Arrowood worked his way through the ranks to become a Regional Operations Director for Red Robin - Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, overseeing six restaurant locations. We asked TJ some questions to learn more about his career in restaurant operations.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?​Do typical days exist in the restaurant industry? One thing that is always constant is validating health and safety standards and having a blast with my people. A typical day in a restaurant consists of working with the managers and team members on product quality, health and safety, spending some time with guests, and developing people!

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?The restaurant industry is the greatest industry in the world lead by some of the world’s greatest people. Each day is different, challenging, and fun.

3. What was your first job in the industry?I was a server at Friendly’s.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.I started off as a server, became a trainer, then a manager, and general manager. While working full time, I got my Associates in Business from Elizabethtown College. From there I switched concepts starting off as a Kitchen Manager and becoming a General Manager. I took a short break from operations and work in Human Resources. I went back into operations as a General Manager and then developed into a multi-unit role. From there I added one restaurant at a time to my region until I got promoted into my current role overseeing six restaurants.

5. What is your favorite part of your job?Developing people, working with team members who want to be developed into managers. One of the great things about the restaurant industry is that anyone can start off as an entry level team member, work really hard, develop themselves, and get to an executive level position. My favorite part is seeing these hardworking team members work their way up and better themselves and their families!

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?Staffing at all levels in our current labor market.

7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in hospitality?Work for a company that you love and is going to take the time to develop you. Find a mentor, explore all aspects of the hospitality industry, explore formal education, and work really hard. This is the industry of opportunity when you set goals and work really hard towards them. Don’t discount the value you add, put your people first, get great results, and make yourself the obvious choice for the promotion, you will achieve your goals.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?Starting out as a server and working my way up to director. The best part about this is all the people that developed and got promoted along the way with me!

9. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?Spend time with my family, remodel houses, and go to the beach!

​Name: Mickala DormanOccupation: Chef/Owner, Twisted Whisk CateringMickala Dorman is the chef/owner of Twisted Whisk Catering, based in Central PA. A CPI Culinary Arts alumna, Mickala went on to earn her associate's degree in culinary arts at The Culinary Institute of America before returning to Central Pennsylvania, where she opened her own catering business. We asked Chef Mickala some questions to learn more about life as a caterer.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?My typical day at work consists of email/calls out to clients, followed by hours in the kitchen creating, plating, and serving delicious food to our clients. We offer drop-off and also full service catering. The days can be long but you never get tired of the faces from your clients when they taste your food!

2. Why did you choose this career/industry?I chose this industry because of the love that I had for food growing up. We always came together as a family for meals, so that's something I would like to try to pass on to the people around me. The love for food always brings together the loved ones around you. I think that is very important these days. After all, if it wouldn't be for the ones around my dinner table, I wouldn't be the chef I am today.

3. What was your first job in the industry?My first job in the industry was as a dietary aide at Centre Crest in Bellefonte. My job there taught me a lot about how to nurture the ones that need it and how to care for people who can't care for themselves. I loved every minute of this job. It taught me about dietary restrictions, which later helped me in my culinary career.

4. Briefly describe your career path and how you got to where you are today.My goal starting off after high school and being at CPI (Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology) was that I wanted to go to college and get a degree in culinary arts. I wasn't sure where to go, so I asked Chef Tim Beckenbaugh for his advice. He suggested applying to the Culinary Institute of America, the same school he attended at the start of his career. I applied and was accepted two weeks later. I began culinary school two weeks after I graduated from high school. That was the best day of my life. Little did I know the knowledge I was about to absorb. When you walk onto the CIA's campus you can not only smell the love of food, but you can feel it. The way the students take pride in their chef whites, they way they walk tall, and show how proud they are of their school. It was a breath of fresh air that I needed going straight into college.

My first day was June 20th, 2012. Two years later I graduated with an associates degree in culinary arts—that is where it all started. I returned home for a couple months to realize that I wanted to be back in the Hudson Valley. I returned to the Hudson Valley after I accepted a line cook job at New World Home Cooking. I was there for about 6 months when I got the opportunity to be promoted to kitchen manager. I took the position. I loved being able to have more of an impact on the kitchen! From there I was the head chef/ owners right hand man (woman). He took me under his wing taught me how to manage a kitchen and all the workers that came with it. I was the kitchen manager for about two years.

From there, I knew that I needed to return home to my family. I returned home in December 2014, when I accepted a job with College Chefs as a private chef for a Penn State Fraternity. It was a great learning experience for me! This was my real test on running my own kitchen—budgeting, cleaning, ordering was all on me. This helped me grow a lot as a chef and a manager. While still at the frat, I decided that it was time to take a leap of faith and start the catering business that I had always wanted to! On October 1st, 2018, my dream became a reality. I opened and started to run my own business, Twisted Whisk Catering. I'm still working on growing my business, but it has been a great first 6 months!

5. What is your favorite part of your job?I have the best job. Working for yourself is so rewarding in so many ways. When I see the smile on my clients faces when they take their first bites— that's all I need. That joy and pleasure just from a simple taste of your food is what I live for and strive for in my business! If you take care of your customers, they will in return take care of you and your business.

6. What is the most challenging part of your job?The most challenging part of my job would be the emailing, calling and keeping contact with my clients. Whenever I'm in the kitchen I usually will not answer my phone, which can lead to longer wait times on emails to clients. I am trying to get better at this!

7. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in culinary?Advice that I would give a student that wants to go into a culinary career would be: get ready to work your butt off. You don't start at the top, even if you're Gordon Ramsay. You will most likely always start at the bottom and work your way up. If you have a good work ethic and love what you do, the hours will not bother you. But be ready to put your head down at school, absorb all you can and then hit the ground running once you graduate! Your chef career is what you make it. Aim high and never stop reaching towards your goals!

8. What achievement are you most proud of?The achievement that I'm most proud of is starting my business at the age of 24. My goal was to have my own successful catering business by the time I was 30. So at 24 when I decided to take the leap, I was so excited when the community started to back me. The sky is the limit now!

9. What do you like to do when you're not working?When I'm not in the kitchen I enjoy quite a few things. I love to travel. I love to immerse myself into different cultures and learn about their way of living and of course cooking! My boyfriend and I travel quite frequently. We are both certified scuba divers so when we travel, we tend to spend some time blowing bubbles beneath the surface. Diving is something I'm really passionate about. It has a way of just taking all your stress away and you feel like you can forget the world.

10. What is your favorite thing to make or eat?My favorite thing to eat would have to be anything Asian! My favorite thing to make would be a lot of Thai dishes. One in particular is my Pad Thai.

PA ProStart Blog

The PA ProStart Blog is for Pennsylvania students and teachers of the ProStart Program- a nationwide, two-level high school career and technical education program that teaches culinary arts and restaurant fundamentals.